INEC delivers election materials in riverine areas

Sensitive and non-sensitive materials for tomorrow’s governorship election in Ondo State have been sent to the two riverine local government areas, Ese-Odo and Ilaje.

This is to facilitate distribution to the wards and units.

The materials were deposited at the Naval Base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government, for security reason.

They were earlier conveyed from the Akure branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office amid security.

The materials, loaded in about seven Hilux pick-up vans, were deposited at the CBN office in Akure last Thursday shortly after being conveyed from Abuja in an aircraft.

The handing over of the election materials to INEC was witnessed by representatives of political parties, security agents, reporters and other stakeholders.

Speaking on the development, a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who was at the CBN office during the handing over, hailed the manner the materials were kept in CBN’s custody.

He said: “As at this moment we are witnessing the handing over of these materials, they have remained intact. Nobody has tampered with them.

“We need to praise INEC and CBN for showing transparency. These materials have not been tampered with. They have remained intact.”

A representative of the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Benson Enikuomehin, commended INEC for the orderly manner it handled the election materials by placing them in the custody of CBN.

He said: “When we got to the CBN office, we met the materials properly sealed. Nobody has tampered with them.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representative, Mr. Niyi Aluko, said if INEC could act with transparency on the field, the election would go smoothly and peace would reign in the state.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, said the collection of materials by INEC signifies the beginning of the poll.

He said: “INEC has promised to be transparent and conduct the best election so far in Ondo State. Allegations of possession of illegal voter cards have now been dispelled as we have received the election materials intact.”

Orebiyi noted that the challenge facing the electoral agency is the attitude of politicians who have no trust in INEC’s activities because of their greed and lust for power.

He urged them to do the right thing and allow a peaceful election, stressing that the security in place would guarantee a hitch-free poll.

The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Southwest, Prof. Lai Olorode, said the materials were intact at the CBN, adding that this has demonstrated that the electoral body is ready to conduct a credible election.

The situation in Ilaje Local Government was peaceful as people were eager to elect the governor of their choice.